Relations between the two were already strained with South Africa pursuing Israel in the International Court of Justice. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Trump has accused South Africa of "human rights violations" and a land grab. The South African government has hit back.

South Africa's foreign minister Ronald Lamola told Reuters on Monday that the United States had not responded to attempts to "formally engage" after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting off aid to South Africa.

The urgent diplomatic maneuvering is part of a broader push to improve relations with the Trump administration. Last week, four congressmen in Washington led calls for South Africa to be excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),

South Africa's foreign minister Ronald Lamola said on Monday that the United States had not responded to attempts to discuss President Donald Trump's executive order cutting off aid but that China had pledged support.